Coastal Delaware Running Festival
Rehoboth Beach, DE
- Marathon, Half Marathon, 9K, 5K
- Road (Paved), Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
The Coastal Delaware Running Festival will consist of a 5K on Saturday and a 9K, Half Marathon & a Full Marathon (Boston Qualifier) on Sunday. All four courses are flat and fast and take in the most beautiful landmarks of coastal Delaware, including a Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk start and finish, … MORE
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Great race in Delaware
I would highly recommend this race if looking for one in Delaware. I chose the half marathon, so my review is based on that course. Weather was overcast, little windy, … MORE
I would highly recommend this race if looking for one in Delaware. I chose the half marathon, so my review is based on that course. Weather was overcast, little windy, but the rain held off making it comfortable for running. I enjoyed the course, which was fairly flat. The race starts and ends on Rehoboth Beach boardwalk, running through neighborhoods and around Gordon Pond nature trail for the majority of the race. I always carry my own hydration/energy gels so I can’t comment on pros/cons of aid stations , but there were a few. Swag/medal/small expo was decent. Spent the weekend at Avenue Inn and Spa, which I highly recommend if you need lodging. The hotel served breakfast at 6am for the runners: oatmeal, bagels (no PB but they had Nutella), fruit, coffee. Within walking distance to race, which came in handy for one last bathroom run before race. Rehoboth Beach is your typical beach town: plenty of places to eat ,drink and shop. Beach/boardwalk is very nice. The only negative is traveling to Rehoboth. Closest major airport for me was Philly. Rented a car and drove about 2 hours (not very scenic) to final destination. If I lived closer, I would definitely run this race again, but I’m off to the next state. If you need Delaware for 50 states challenge, you won’t be sorry in choosing this one.
Excellent small race
This is a well-run event. The half-marathon had corrals, which I appreciated, and the start was well-organized. I greatly appreciated the friendliness of the volunteers, especially at the water stops … MORE
This is a well-run event. The half-marathon had corrals, which I appreciated, and the start was well-organized. I greatly appreciated the friendliness of the volunteers, especially at the water stops and finish. They did an excellent job.
The medals for these races were great. If you did a challenge or the marathon you got an extra large medal. They were impressive!
The post-race party at Grotto’s was fun and had a good atmosphere. It was crowded but everyone was friendly and accommodating. My friend and I had no trouble finding a seat at a shared table.
Free photos and a finish line video were a nice touch. Thanks, Coastal Delaware! I’ll be back.
Well run, great course!
Course is flat and fast. My biggest complaint would be to start the 9k race AFTER the 1/2 marathon start. I didn't understand the logic, other races with multiple distance, … MORE
Course is flat and fast. My biggest complaint would be to start the 9k race AFTER the 1/2 marathon start. I didn’t understand the logic, other races with multiple distance, tend to start shorter distance at end. There were quite a few “groups” that were there to walk and they would take the entire width of the course. It was very frustrating as the start was already crowded with the 1/2 runners and passing became difficult, especially since the volunteers were doing their job and telling everyone to stay left.. The crowd didn’t break until the 9k folks peeled off at around mile 3-4?? And, I would love to NOT get so many emails. It is just insane the amount that are sent out! But, good race, great after party and will do again!
Designed by a lover of the sport!
This course gives you EVERYTHING! Gorgeous neighborhoods, running along a highway, lots of wooded trails, start and finish at the beach boardwalk, loops that don't make you angry and are … MORE
This course gives you EVERYTHING! Gorgeous neighborhoods, running along a highway, lots of wooded trails, start and finish at the beach boardwalk, loops that don’t make you angry and are fascinating and appreciated and pizza for free at the finish. Bonus free photos and video of everyone crossing the finishline! Definitely one to not miss.
Beautiful
We had an overcast, cool race day. Perfect weather for running. I appreciated the packed dirt course (where I occurred) and the fabulous support on course - especially for us … MORE
We had an overcast, cool race day. Perfect weather for running. I appreciated the packed dirt course (where I occurred) and the fabulous support on course – especially for us back-of-the-pack runners. The after-race atmosphere also fabulous. Thanks Delaware- State #21 for me!
Well-Produced Race
Really well-produced/run (pun semi-intended) race! Nothing super-fancy, but beautiful small town, loved that the race started and ended on boardwalk, bib/packet pickup was easy, loved the beer glass at pickup … MORE
Really well-produced/run (pun semi-intended) race! Nothing super-fancy, but beautiful small town, loved that the race started and ended on boardwalk, bib/packet pickup was easy, loved the beer glass at pickup and the Finisher hat at the end, really nice medal, just a really well-done race. The two things to note are this race has a large portion of it on trails rather than roads, and GETTING AN UBER TO THE START LINE IS VERY DIFFICULT, SO PLAN AHEAD TO DRIVE, GET A RIDE, OR LEAVE AN HOUR FOR THE UBER TO GET TO YOU.
Overall nice race
This was an overall nice race. It was well organized and had a lot of aid stations. I did not realize that a decent chunk of it would be on … MORE
This was an overall nice race. It was well organized and had a lot of aid stations. I did not realize that a decent chunk of it would be on packed gravel/dirt (which I don’t enjoy and it felt much harder running on). The sections on the road were great though and it was mostly flat. I loved the start/finish on the boardwalk by the beach. Weather was cold, but perfect for running!
Well-run Race!
Costal Delaware was an excellent race! Beforehand, the director was quick to respond to questions regarding the event. The race and afterparty were well-organized and a great experience. Looking forward … MORE
Costal Delaware was an excellent race! Beforehand, the director was quick to respond to questions regarding the event. The race and afterparty were well-organized and a great experience. Looking forward to running this race again!
Nice course
This course was really nice, mostly flat. There were some quiet spots that were very scenic and the spots on the road were filled with enthusiastic volunteers and spectators. I … MORE
This course was really nice, mostly flat. There were some quiet spots that were very scenic and the spots on the road were filled with enthusiastic volunteers and spectators. I didn’t see the fuel options they advertised (gu or jelly beans) but it’s possible I overlooked them.
I did have a terrible experience with the lead bike/golf cart which ruined the experience for me. A few of the areas on the bike path have two-way traffic which were slightly narrow but definitely manageable for everyone to easily and safely pass by each other. When I was coming up to one of these spots the leading golf cart driver was looking behind them and almost ran me over. Then 10 steps later as I’m about to exit the bike path and go onto the street the leading cyclist was out of control, started frantically waving one arm and screamed at me to “move out of the way”. The only options I had were to stop dead (while running a 7:45 pace) or to run straight through a massive body of standing water directly into the aid station set up. So I had to stop to wait for the cyclist to pass then after the first place runner went by I could continue with my race. I understand the need to make sure spectators aren’t standing in the way however I paid almost $200 to run the race just like the gentleman in first place did. I was mortified that they would treat another runner like that and will definitely not be back, especially with the price of the race.
A great first marathon
I thought this race was really well managed. Capping the marathon at 900 was great. I didn’t feel super bunched up but still felt surrounded by others. The people at … MORE
I thought this race was really well managed. Capping the marathon at 900 was great. I didn’t feel super bunched up but still felt surrounded by others. The people at the water station were so nice and very cheerful. I wish there had been more free SWAG at packet pickup as for other races they have had more. The party afterwards was very nice.
Great Town, Lacking Race Support, Again
I’ve now run this race two years in a row, and unfortunately, the same problems continue to show up—despite the very premium price tag. At $180, runners deserve far better … MORE
I’ve now run this race two years in a row, and unfortunately, the same problems continue to show up—despite the very premium price tag. At $180, runners deserve far better race support than what’s currently being offered.
Let’s start with the fuel: Both years, the race prep guide promised flat Coke and gummy bears (candy etc) after mile 21—neither ever materialized. There was also supposed to be Gu at three different stops. If it was there, it was either gone incredibly early (meaning there wasn’t enough), not at all visible or not handed out at all. For such a long, mentally and physically draining course, especially in the later miles, this is a huge oversight.
The course itself is beautiful but sparsely supported. There are long stretches where you’re running completely alone, which is fine—until it’s not. I missed a crucial turn near the playground around mile 25 and ended up going off course for a bit. Turns out, I wasn’t the only one. That spot desperately needed better signage or a course marshal. And on the very long trail stretches any sort of marker to let you know you were on course would be helpful. For a race with this price point, more directional support and visual markers should be standard.
The cotton race shirts, while soft, just aren’t practical. For $180, a technical shirt should be the minimum. Runners want shirts we can actually train in—not another tee for the donation pile.
The pros? Spectator access is fantastic. It’s one of the easiest races for friends and family to hop around the course and cheer at multiple locations. The volunteers—though few and far between—were enthusiastic and kind. Special shout-out to the table of young ladies around mile 20 who were dancing, yelling names, and creating an amazing vibe just when it was needed most. Free race photos are always appreciated and a perk.
The finish line? Beautiful location—terrible execution. The boardwalk isn’t roped off, and I had to weave around people walking their dogs and casually strolling across the finish line. That’s really not acceptable for a race that brands itself as a competitive, fast course.
Grottos pizza sounded like a fun post-race perk, but the line was so long we couldn’t even get in. It’s a tiny location and totally overwhelmed by the number of runners.
So why did I run it again? It’s close to home. It’s early in the season before the heat ramps up. Rehoboth Beach is absolutely gorgeous. And the course is fast and flat.
But still, I can’t help but feel like I paid a premium for what amounts to a DIY experience with some nice scenery. If the organizers want repeat runners and rave reviews, they need to address these same issues—year after year, they keep showing up.
Beautiful scenic race
This race was exceptionally well run with great communication. Rehoboth beach (though are visit was rainy and chilly) has beautiful scenery, beach, and plenty of shopping and restaurants. We stayed … MORE
This race was exceptionally well run with great communication. Rehoboth beach (though are visit was rainy and chilly) has beautiful scenery, beach, and plenty of shopping and restaurants. We stayed at the admiral on Baltimore so half block walk to race start.
The race itself is one of the most beautiful I’ve run. From the boardwalk, you wind through neighborhoods, then into a natural park area with wetlands and wood and seashore. Gorgeous and peaceful. Trails were well packed and mostly smooth no issues. Plenty of water stops and support. Some small hills, really very flat.
I thought it was fantastic and strong recommend.
Pleasant Race with Awesome Views!
I didn't expect much out of this race, but I was pleasantly surprised! It was a nice, easy, and flat course, and it was really beautiful weather when I ran … MORE
I didn’t expect much out of this race, but I was pleasantly surprised! It was a nice, easy, and flat course, and it was really beautiful weather when I ran it last year. I also thought it was really cool that we started on the boardwalk at the beach, and then we ended up running through the majority of the half throughout a state park. I have never done that before, and it was such an awesome time! There was a bridge that we ran on, and even though we were on a trail for part of it, it was very flat and easy to run on (I wasn’t worried about tripping at all even though I am a road runner). The only reason I didn’t give this race 5 stars is because there was a problem with organization here. When we were running in the state park, random cyclists and walkers kept hopping on the course, and some of them were being rude and getting in the way of runners. Also, at the very end, right by the finish line on the board walk, I was running full speed and there were people walking in the course, causing problems for runners. I had two people decide to cut me off as I was trying to finish so that was super annoying. Most races have the very end of the course fenced off so it’s closed, but that was not the case here.
Nice Flat Run Along The Coast
-Beautiful scenery as your start the race at sunrise on Rehoboth Beach boardwalk. Get to run on some trails in a state park through some marshlands, around the WWII tower, … MORE
-Beautiful scenery as your start the race at sunrise on Rehoboth Beach boardwalk. Get to run on some trails in a state park through some marshlands, around the WWII tower, and finish back along the beach. Only downside is the last 6-7 miles were on a bike path which was a little anticlimactic. Course is very flat!
-Decent Swag with an awesome stain glass medal, beer glass, hat, but the shirt is poor quality and the lettering on it starting peeling off within a few weeks. Very little marathon specific clothing or gear at the packet pick up.
-Bibs came with your name on them in big font so it was motivating to have all the crowds cheering your name as you ran by
-Very well put together for a smaller race!
Flat & Back of the Pack Friendly
I was looking for another half marathon along with Newport and even though this one was a bit of a trek a bunch of my running friends were doing it … MORE
I was looking for another half marathon along with Newport and even though this one was a bit of a trek a bunch of my running friends were doing it and I thought it would be cool to run a half in the two smallest states in one weekend. I am unofficially calling this the smallest state challenge. Of note, driving from New England to Delaware is absolutely awful as you have to pass through NYC so I can’t say I necessarily recommend this challenge. Also flights from Boston are really expensive this weekend as it’s school vacation so I couldn’t fly without paying like $400. I knew the driving would be awful and honestly I thought about skipping this race and running one somewhere closer instead but after some subpar experiences with New England Half Marathons last weekend, I decided it would be worth crossing the George Washington Bridge twice for a race in the more back of the pack friendly mid-Atlantic region. This was definitely the right decision as this race was so much better than my last 3 half marathons in New England. For the race I opted to pay extra for emergency race day packet pickup. if you are coming to do the race after Rhode Island do not expect to make it on time for packet pick-up. I know it goes until 8pm but traffic is insane and it took over 8 hours to drive from Rhode Island to Rehoboth Beach. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Rehoboth. it was about a 10 minute drive to the race. There are hotels within walking distance but I didn’t really have time to spend in Delaware besides the race and had a car anyways. Pre-race communication was excellent with a helpful race guide. I was a little nervous about parking since I have never been to this area of Delaware and the guide just said there was plenty of parking by the boardwalk and don’t worry there is plenty of parking by the boardwalk. However if you arrive on the later side you may have to parking about 0.5 mile away from the start. Race day packet pickup was super easy and convenient. Since it cost $30 for race day packet pick-up I don’t think many opted for that option meaning there was no line. Packet included bib, a polyblend shirt and a pint glass. The start of the race was organized in 3 waves for the half marathon. There were pacers up to 3 hours and a sweeper who went at the time limit which was 4 hours. I lined up between the 3 hour pacer and sweeper. Since this race had a 4 hour time limit and I am doing so many half marathons I took this one very easy. The race was extremely well organized. The course was very well marked and There were several timing mats on the course to track runners. I didn’t have any of the issues I had in the prior 3 races. However I was a bit disappointed in the course scenery and lack of spectators on course. While the scenery wasn’t bad, it was not the beachy views I was hoping for. The race starts on the boardwalk by the beach but shortly then is about 3 miles through neighborhoods. The neighborhoods were fine to run though but there were not really any spectators out. A little after mile 3 you do a lollipop loop on a public trail. This section is quite pretty by a lake and through marshlands though not past the ocean. This is mostly trail with a bit on boardwalk and a small amount paved on the loop. The trail is not technical at all but I did have to watch my footing a bit. While the course is very flat, I did not find it to be a fast course. If you want to PR or BQ on this course make sure you run on some similar trail. I also had very tired legs from all the hills at my last 3 races and wasn’t pushing myself too hard. You then go back on the boardwalk where you finish. Aid stations were good and had water, gatorade and 1 or 2 had gels. They never ran out of aid station supplies or shut things down early even though I was very slow although I did stay well under the 4 hour time limit. There were also lots of porta potties at the aid stations. I did love the finish line. This was where all the spectators were. The bib has your name and so many people where cheering for me even though I’m just walking along while there are faster marathoners finishing too. This finish line was so great compared to the day before at Newport. At the finish line you get your medal and a finisher hat. The medal is really nice and stain glass appearance. I would consider the medal above average though thought the race shirt was below average. With the pint glass and the hat as well though this was overall good swag for a race. They had water bottles and bananas at the finish line. There is supposedly a really nice finish party with pizza and salad but I had to leave right away for plans in Philadelphia in the afternoon so skipped it. Overall I thought this was a very nice race. Excellent production, back of the pack friendly and good swag. I did think the course was a bit boring especially as there were so few spectators on course. If I lived closer I would definitely do this race again. I’m not 100% sure I would drive 8+ hours for this race again but would consider it if there was something I wanted to do in the area the weekend of the race. I do think this is a very good choice for Delaware. I have now done 3 races in Delaware (the other 2 being Delaware Running Festival in Wilmington and First State Half in Newark) and I think this one was probably the nicest of the 3 although the other 2 had a lot of issues outside the race’s control (covid, weather). However the other races I did in DE were also nice and were much closer to Philadelphia so may be more convenient for travel.
Great scenic overall event, nice area.
Great overall event. I though this event was kinda pricy when I registered, but very well done with great swag. Nice Medal, Hat, Shirt, Pint Glass, and post race food/beverage … MORE
Great overall event. I though this event was kinda pricy when I registered, but very well done with great swag. Nice Medal, Hat, Shirt, Pint Glass, and post race food/beverage at Grotto Pizza. Paid extra race day bib pickup. Free local parking wasn’t to hard to find. Good amount of bathrooms available. Started 3 separate waves to spread people out, and that worked well. Multiple event distances were running together, but it was never crowded on course. A scenic course on some paved side streets, crushed gravel paths, and boardwalk for the start and finish. A decent amount of shade too. Ocean views and Sand dunes in many areas. Very pretty. Lots of great shopping in the area near the beach! Post race free food from Grotto Pizza was great with endless Pizza, pasta, salad, chicken fingers, and you get 3 beer tickets! Plenty of seating inside, and an outside area too. Great to put your feet right in the ocean after running too. Really loved everything about this event!
Pretty Course!
Highly recommend choosing this race as your Delaware race. The course is flat, scenic and fun...great crowd support, water spots, etc. I was a little stressed about finding parking on … MORE
Highly recommend choosing this race as your Delaware race. The course is flat, scenic and fun…great crowd support, water spots, etc. I was a little stressed about finding parking on Sunday AM, but I arrived early and it was easy. The race swag is great – loved the tshirt and glass that you got at packet pickup, then the medal is huge and already have worn my finisher’s hat.
I didn’t have a good race, but I blame that on life getting in the way of training…maybe I’ll go back and redeem myself in a few years.
Not as Popular as I Thought
This was a good race, considering the location and the size of DE. I thought that this would be a really popular marathon, but there weren't many spectators out to … MORE
This was a good race, considering the location and the size of DE. I thought that this would be a really popular marathon, but there weren’t many spectators out to cheer us on, so I felt kinda lonely for most of the race.
I was also hoping that it would be cool (since it’s advertised as the “coolest race in DE”). But the weather started to get really hot (high 60s-70s). To make things worse, there’s next to no shade along the course, minus the few parts when we are on the trails. I know the race directors can’t control the weather, so I can’t hold it against them. The course was run through some suburbs/roads, boardwalks, wooden bridges, and lots of dirt trails. I thought the scenery was pretty at least!
As for production, I felt like the expo was small, but it was very organized. Again, I was hoping for a larger venue and more swag, but we only received our race shirts and a glass (which was nice).
Grotto pizza is the big sponsor of this race, and they definitely nailed it! I LOVE their pizza and I wish I lived in the area! After the 5K on Saturday, runners got 2 beers and pizza. After the races on Sunday, we had a buffet at Grottos (ex. chicken, salad, pizza) and 3 beers!
Overall, this was a good race! It’s not difficult, but can be boring and HOT. At least we had a solid after party!
Overall would recommend!
This was my first half marathon. The course is definitely flat which was great! There were a lot of aid stations which I appreciated, and the medals were beautiful. I … MORE
This was my first half marathon. The course is definitely flat which was great! There were a lot of aid stations which I appreciated, and the medals were beautiful. I do agree with some of the other reviews regarding the quality of the shirts provided. It would’ve been much nicer to have a tec shirt instead, especially given the cost of the races. Overall though I would run this race again!
Beautiful day, beautiful race
This race is lovely, flat, and well-supported. The expo was easy to navigate. Parking on race day was straightforward - street parking, no charge. As usual, marathoners greatly outnumbered by … MORE
This race is lovely, flat, and well-supported. The expo was easy to navigate. Parking on race day was straightforward – street parking, no charge. As usual, marathoners greatly outnumbered by half-marathoners and 9k runners. There were pacers which really helped. Most of the course is really lovely, with ocean views, paths through salt marsh and through the dunes, etc. albeit with a few drudgerous stretches. Crowd support was OK. Aid stations were adequate – volunteers could have been better about having water cups ready to go, but hey they’re volunteers. Some gels handed out on course but really bring your own. One modest hill. Lotta sun. We got lucky with the weather, mostly cool til the end, not a lot of wind considering it’s the beach. Overall, a good regional marathon and a BQ & PR for me.